Lemon Tree No More???

[Stichman]

Originally Posted by Metarie

Oh you're all gutted now, but a few months ago everyone was happy to slag it off non stop. Turns out (as my favourite Tree techie would say) a music venue needs more support than that to stay open. Everyone knew the venue was there, it's your fault if you didn't make the effort to find out what was playing. And let's be honest, The Lemon Tree didn't put on as many tribute acts as all that, Drummonds put on a fair few themselves and no one ever hauls them up about it.

I'll fight in the Lemon Tree's corner til the bitter end (and it seems this is it). I worked there for 3 years and had an awesome time, met some very talented people and some of my best friends. If nothing else it taught me not to be such a muso snob and to actually take a chance on random gigs because the majority of the time you'll be pleasently surprised.

I'd appreciate if you didn't categorise everyone in the entire thread into one Anti-Lemon Tree group. I've never "slagged off" the venue.
I've been to loads of gigs there for the past 5 years, I've played there and I've always said it was probably my favourite place to play in the whole city. That said, it had faults. Of course it had faults. That's why it's shut.

[stevie252]

No way. That is a shame, Its not just a band venue we're losing, its the comedy venue, the good kids shows and a pretty decent lunch on a saturday.

I agree that the council shouldnt have to keep bailing them out but at least those of you who live in the city know your money was helping fund a decent venue. Those of us from the Shire have joy of bailing out Archaeolink all the time ! (moan over!)

[Marsh]

Originally Posted by Gemz

Here is a run down of what i paid for my night at Lemon Tree...with 'local' nights like this i feel that the statement in the paper was a bit of a dissapointment...

£1000 for hire = VAT £1175

Just before the gig i found out that this price did not include the lightin technician OR the drum kit...SHOCKING!!!

I had been led to belive that the Lemon Tree would supply some crates of beers for the guys upstairs but i ended up doing that too...

I got a settlement cheque through last week actually (i was meant to get it within 14 days) for £44...thats how much i made...bearing in mind the bands didnt get paid either...

The Lemon Tree made all of the above plus however much was made from the 300 people drinking at the bar AND they added 2.50 onto the ticket prices at the door so people were paying 7.50 instead of a fiver...

I said to them please take the price down to a fiver but still take your 2.50 but nope...

Peacock Visual Arts does do music...

It HAS to reopen under private ownership...

Austin i also have a fiver!

As good an advert as any to get a contract in writing before any money is handed over?

"Led to believe" and "just before the gig" ain't good enough, even if you assume the venue would be trustworthy.

Anyway, the Lemon Tree took it's own path. It was the best venue in Aberdeen by miles in the nineties, attracting loads of great acts and getting them in an intimate venue with rabid fans. Recent years saw the management turn it into a stop on the tribute and nostalgia circuit and no more than a stop gap for acts who wanted to avoid the livelier, trendier Tunnels & Moshulu or weren't big enough for the Music Hall. In addition, the beer was hideously overpriced and some of the ticket prices were beyond steep.

It's harsh, but they deserved what they got through their shite booking and through turning the place into an uninviting dingy dive. What happened to the Juice evenings and Pound Club nights of yesteryear? There was no effort by the management to advertise or try and freshen the place up with a new club night or by getting local acts to play (wow, look what Flash is doing right now and how much interest there's been - It's nae rocket science. Bands need somewhere to play and the Lemon Tree was such a great venue in the past for giving local supports.

What's going to happen to the hallowed amazing sound desk, I wonder?

I would love to see it made into a slick venue that could attract top acts and get some intimate gigs by medium - sized acts back on the go. With cheap booze on offer!

Sad day, but they had it coming.

[saf-one]

Total disaSter!

The Lemon Tree was much more than a Venue.
All the youth development work, arts work, local band support, disabled theater groups etc etc all huge loss makers - no much wonder they couldnt balance the books.

The line up for for gigs and events for next year was looking great too due to the efforts of the new booker Isla who had the place on the up.

I could rant on forever about it but I need to shoot off....all in all - Its a massive shame.


As for Adventures Close To Home - We're currently working out our options, hoping to getting our fancy lights back, and will be back for sure.

[Bigsby]

Kind of gutted about this, played there quite a few times and seen loads of good gigs over the years.

I still think there is a case for the council subsidising a venue though, could well be they have a plan up their sleeves for something that won't lose so much money.

[french_disko]

Originally Posted by Metarie

Oh you're all gutted now, but a few months ago everyone was happy to slag it off non stop. Turns out (as my favourite Tree techie would say) a music venue needs more support than that to stay open. Everyone knew the venue was there, it's your fault if you didn't make the effort to find out what was playing. And let's be honest, The Lemon Tree didn't put on as many tribute acts as all that, Drummonds put on a fair few themselves and no one ever hauls them up about it.

I'll fight in the Lemon Tree's corner til the bitter end (and it seems this is it). I worked there for 3 years and had an awesome time, met some very talented people and some of my best friends. If nothing else it taught me not to be such a muso snob and to actually take a chance on random gigs because the majority of the time you'll be pleasently surprised.

what a pile of pish.

It's all the punters fault? No mention of the appaling money loss the venus was making then.

and you can hardly run a business by simply existing & then expecting people to find out what you sell - surely that's the marketing departments job.

the difference between the LT & drummonds is that one is an Arts Venue - and you expect to see art there, not karaoke acts.

and it's all very well saying people should attend "random gigs" - but not everyone worked there like you & got discount/freebies for these gigs.

[SteveCrisis]

A sad announcement indeed but not a great shock to the system either, given the cash it was haemorrhaging. A shame for all the staff employed there goes without saying.

I'm getting nostalgic about all the gigs and stand-up comedy I've seen there over the years.

Mogwai and Fugazi stand out as the most memorable.

*sigh*

[lepeep]

here's the official line:

Lemon Tree closes its doors

04/12/07

Aberdeen’s performing arts centre The Lemon Tree has closed.

The board of directors met tonight and decided unanimously that they had no choice but to shut down the venue.

The decision came after a meeting of Aberdeen City Council’s Resources Management Committee this afternoon, at which The Lemon Tree’s financial situation was discussed.

Committee members agreed unanimously that the venue should be offered the chance to take out a loan from the City Council-administered Aberdeen Business Enterprise Scheme (ABES) – or The Lemon Tree could have its overdraft facility underwritten up to a reasonable new limit by the City Council.

Neither option was taken up by The Lemon Tree’s board.

Board members said in a statement: "The board met tonight and agreed unanimously that The Lemon Tree had no alternative but to cease trading with immediate effect. All due legal processes will be followed in proceeding to voluntary liquidation.

"We regret the decision and the impact that there will inevitably be on staff and customers, particularly at this time of year, but we are unable to continue trading when we do not have enough cash to meet our liabilities."

__________________________________________________ _____________________

As you may already have heard in the news The Lemon Tree has ceased trading and gone into voluntary liquidation with immediate effect leaving in excess of 50 of us jobless 3 weeks before Christmas.


Its absolutely devastating that it has come to this. For so many of us working at The Lemon Tree was very much more than just a job. We have put our hearts and souls into the place and it was truly heartbreaking and shocking to receive a call last night to say that the doors had closed for the very last time.


The locks on the building have already been changed and staff have been advised to go in at lunchtime today to collect their personal belongings. I'm unsure for how much longer this email address will be active.


For those who have outstanding business with the organisation I'm afraid I have no answers as to what happens from here but I felt the very least I could do was let you know the situation.


Claire

[glennbuchan]

that's gutting. had some really good nights at the lemon tree. Will miss it a lot

[The Kernel Loaf]

This is completely shit, but it was inevitable.

[idol_wild]

Originally Posted by french_disko

It's all the punters fault? No mention of the appaling money loss the venus was making then.

and you can hardly run a business by simply existing & then expecting people to find out what you sell - surely that's the marketing departments job.

the difference between the LT & drummonds is that one is an Arts Venue - and you expect to see art there, not karaoke acts.

and it's all very well saying people should attend "random gigs" - but not everyone worked there like you & got discount/freebies for these gigs.

I was going to respond to what was said a page back, but you just articulated pretty much everything I was going to say. Bravo.

To suggest it's up to us to find out what is going on at The Lemon Tree is an insular and backward approach to operating a venue.

[Hugh Anderson]

Shows I've seen AND enjoyed in the lemon tree in 3 years and 3 months:

Mylo
Bloc Party
Skatalites
The Kills
Part Chimp
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
Six Organs of Admittance
Twilight Sad and Frightened Rabbit
The Black Lips
Akron Family and Howlin Rain

Not that my taste or attendance to shows is any measure but 10 shows in over 3 years isn't a great innings. You often get as many good gigs (of similar size) in glasgow in a month, why were so many missed e.g. decemberists, interpol, clap your hands, explosions, my morning jacket... the list is endless.

With the exception of Bloc Party and possibly the recent Akron Family/Howlin Rain i feel every show (especially "club" nights") would have benefited from being in a different venue. I always leave the lemon tree feeling i have been to a gig in an airport foyer (with airport prices). This along with often trigger-happy bouncers leaves the atmosphere turgid.

Finally, in the time i've been in aberdeen the heavy reliance on tribute acts was detrimental, i accept they can be quite profitable but the integrity of a "cultural" venue is surely more important? - if you're making a loss, you might as well make the most of it!

Better booking, promotion and more attention to atmosphere rather than a ridiculously expensive PA and soundproofing may have saved the place... but this is Aberdeen. People are still complaining about Drakes closing but the few times i was there, there was only about half a dozen folk in the place (one of which was Steven Dedalus... each time... Fun!). With gigs also canceled in Cellar 35 for people having fun, can the music scene win?

[Metarie]

Ok, fair enough, shoving everyone into the same category isn't fair, but the Tree was an easy target for a lot of people.
Another thing is that the Lemon Tree wasn't just catering for a young crowd, as most others in Aberdeen seem to, many of the acts appealed to older folk so maybe this forum isn't the best place to get an objective view point. But I do think that the punters are partly to blame. If you stopped getting the brochure delivered, then use the website or phone them up to renew the subscription. It's easy to say that they dub their own grave, but how many of you actually made an effort to try and help it?

[stepmaster5000]

I’m devastated, I just hope that the tunnels and peacock will be able to book bands of the same international level that the lemon tree did. Artist such as Devendra Banhart, Akron Family, Low, Spiritualised, the Black Lips, Boredoms, etc,etc

Tonight I’m going dedicate my radio show Death From Exposure on aberdeenstudentradio.com to the lemon tree, playing music from some of my favourite gigs over the years. The show will be on from 5-6 and you should all feel free to e-mail requests for songs by bands that have played the venue over the years, and I’ll do my best to play them.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Tim BENCH

seeing Kelly Joe Phelps with a full band. (sniff sniff)

Fuck! Who's going to book Kelly now? Seen him twice at the Lemon Tree.

Also just thought that there'll be no rootin' aboot next year either.